Evolution of Art & Artist: Historical & Philosophical (Vol. I)

Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal was born on July 14, 1914, in Muzaffarnagar. From a young age, he had a profound interest in art. A passionate patriot, he actively participated in the non-cooperation movement for India’s independence, facing multiple arrests. Following this, his family encouraged him to leave his hometown. With the support of a friend, he enrolled at the Government School of Arts and Crafts in Lucknow, where he received formal training in fine arts, though his quest for true artistry remained unfulfilled.

In 1938, he founded ‘Kala Bharti’ in Prayagraj, an institute dedicated to Fine Arts, Classical Music, and Classical Dance. The institute flourished, attracting notable figures, including two former Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Vishwanath Pratap Singh. At the encouragement of his mentors, A.K. Halder and Avneendranath Tagore, he accepted a position as Professor and later became the Principal of the Government School of Arts and Crafts in Lucknow, serving tirelessly until 1973.

As a painter from the Bengal school of art, Prof. Sanghal developed an innovative wash painting technique, which will preserve his work for centuries. His paintings are deeply expressive, reflecting human emotions and psychology, with each piece telling its own story. His extensive research on Indian ‘rasa’ (emotional flavours) infused his works with symbolic colour that convey various human emotions. While his primary focus was wash paintings, he also excelled in lacsit paintings, silk paintings, tapestries, landscapes, oil paintings, portraits, and sculptures.

In 1985, he published ‘Bhartiya Chitrakala Paddhati,’ a comprehensive account of his teaching methods, philosophy, art aesthetics, and history in Hindi. As an art advisor to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who had a deep appreciation for Indian art, Sanghal authored ‘Evolution of Art and Artist,’ a three-volume work that took 12 years to complete. His family is currently working on its publication, which explores the historical, philosophical, aesthetic, and technical aspects of various art schools.

Throughout his career, Prof. Sanghal received numerous awards at all-India art exhibitions organized by institutions such as the All India Fine Art and Craft Society, Bombay Art Society and Academy of Fine Arts (Calcutta). Notably, his painting Thou art dust, to dust returnest was acquired for the Royal Collection by the late Emperor George V of Great Britain. He also designed the wedding invitation for Indira Gandhi at Pandit Nehru’s request in 1942, a design that garnered acclaim both in India and abroad.

In 1992, he held a major solo exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi. Even after retirement, he continued to teach art from his home in Lucknow. A music enthusiast, he studied classical music for five years under Pandit Bholabhatt and possessed extensive knowledge of naturopathy, yoga, and natural healing, which he applied for personal well-being and societal benefit.

Prof. Sanghal preferred to live away from the limelight, passing away on November 29, 2006. In his honour, the State Lalit Kala Academy of Uttar Pradesh organized a retrospective exhibition in March 2022. Subsequently, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation inaugurated an art exhibition featuring his works in April 2022. On the occasion of his 108th birth anniversary, the Rhastriya Kala Manch and Kala Bharti Trust hosted an art exhibition and wash painting workshop at the Goel Group of Institutions in Lucknow, followed by a similar event for his 109th birthday at the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation.

To commemorate his legacy, the Lucknow Nagar Nigam honoured Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal on the 16th anniversary of his passing in 2022 by naming a significant road in Kesarbagh, in front of his residence,

as Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal Road. His art continues to imbue our lives with deeper significance and serves as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.